Returning the Favor

Deb Mackey and Wendy Shaw stand together with a piece of art from a Paint ‘N Sip event. Shaw said Mackey has been instrumental by donating her time and talents to the Paint N’ Sip events, which help raise funds for the purchasing of gas cards.

Wendy Shaw never felt alone after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2009.

Between then and 2011, Shaw received a gracious amount of community support as she traveled to and from cancer treatments, sitting in the care center as chemotherapy was injected into her veins, going through remissions and return visits until she was able to say she had defeated her foe.

Ever since, Shaw has worked to give back to the community which gave so much inspiration and help to her through her Friends Comforting Friends organization.

“I was helped by so many people and this was my way to give back,” Shaw said. “It started as a way to give gas cards to cancer patients so they would be able to travel to and from their treatments.”

Wendy Shaw started to create care baskets like these to help those facing cancer treatments. The Friends Comforting Friends program has since expanded to help others who are in need of care and a pick-me-up.

Shaw was also able to give patients comfort and care baskets, which would hold items she knew were needed by people going through cancer treatments.

“There are several kinds of lotions that are good for people, fleece socks, magazines, crossword puzzles, hard candy and more things people would use while they were going through chemotherapy,” she said. “It gives patients the feeling of comfort.”

As Shaw saw more need in the community, she also saw more willingness to help from others.

“I have a group now who makes fleece blankets for the bags,” she said. “We have a Facebook page (search Friends Comforting Friends) and if I need anything, I will put a notice onto the Facebook site and I will receive help in full force. I once asked for a certain brand of lotion, and within days I had 80 bottles of it.”

She has also seen community members step up to help with donations and even fundraisers, and a Paint N’ Sip event has been created with proceeds benefitting the program.

“Deb Mackey has been instrumental for us in providing her time and talents to do this event for us,” said Shaw, who said proceeds from the Paint N’ Sip go to help purchase the gas cards.

Mackey has also been able to devote more time to the program since last January, when she retired from the Ticonderoga Central School District.

“My main goal is basically to copy everything people did for me and give that back to others,” she said.

Friends Comforting Friends has also added to its charity giving, as the first post on a recent visit to the Facebook Page was not about a cancer patient, but someone who had broken their ankle.

Our friend, Portia, broke her ankle and could use our help. She will be having surgery on her ankle this Friday and will be immobile for several weeks. If you would like to help out re: dinners, cleaning, laundry, etc., please leave a message below or send me a private message. Thank you so much!

“We will be delivering dinner to her tonight,” Shaw said excitingly on the day of the interview.

“While our main focus is cancer patients, we really want to help whoever is in need of help.”

Portia, who later commented on the above post, mentioned how appreciative she was.

“Thank you Wendy for all your help. It’s been appreciated more than I could ever say. Surgery is tomorrow and strict bedrest for two weeks following. And partial after that. I love you and thank you for helping me and my family.”